Puri Hails Praveen Sharma's Bronze in Asian Para Games Shot Put
Synopsis
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri praised para athlete Praveen Sharma for winning bronze in the Men's Shot Put F11 at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling it a fighting and undaunted performance and tagging the Paralympic Committee of India.
Key Takeaways
Praveen Sharma won the bronze medal in Men's Shot Put F11 at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
The F11 classification covers athletes with complete or near-complete visual impairment.
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri publicly congratulated Sharma on October 20, 2026 .
The post was tagged to the Paralympic Committee of India and the PSPB , highlighting institutional support for the athlete.
India has participated in the Asian Para Games since 2010 , with medal counts growing significantly after 2014 .
A bronze medal won in darkness — and a performance that lit up the field anyway. Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday, October 20 congratulated para athlete Praveen Sharma for clinching the bronze medal in the Men's Shot Put F11 at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling it a 'fighting and undaunted performance.'
The F11 classification covers athletes with complete or near-complete visual impairment — making Sharma's medal not just a competitive result, but a statement of tenacity. Puri's post, tagged to the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) and the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB), brought national spotlight to a result that might otherwise stay buried in the athletics field events.
What the F11 class demands of Praveen Sharma
Competing in the F11 shot put means Sharma performs without any functional sight — an athlete relying entirely on technique, body mechanics, and muscle memory honed over years of training. The shot put circle leaves no room for error and no visual reference for alignment. A medal at the continental level in this discipline places Sharma among the elite in Asian para-athletics.India's rising arc at the Asian Para Games
India has participated in the Asian Para Games since the event's inaugural edition in 2010, with medal tallies climbing sharply after 2014 as investment in para-sports infrastructure grew. The Paralympic Committee of India has steadily expanded its selection pipeline, and athletes competing under bodies like the PSPB — which provides employment and training support to sportspersons — have been a consistent part of that growth story. Ministers amplifying individual para-sport results on social media has become a deliberate visibility strategy: name the athlete, name the event, push the hashtag. Sharma's bronze is one piece of a larger medal picture India is assembling at these Games. The final tally will tell the fuller story of where Indian para-athletics stands in 2026.Point of View
And posts like this one are part of sustaining that narrative. The real policy test will come when the Games conclude and attention turns to whether training budgets and athlete welfare commitments are actually strengthened.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Praveen Sharma the para athlete?
Praveen Sharma is an Indian para athlete competing in the F11 shot put classification, which is designated for athletes with complete or near-complete visual impairment.
What is the F11 classification in para athletics?
F11 is a para athletics field classification for athletes who are completely or almost completely blind, requiring them to compete without any functional sight.
What are the Asian Para Games 2026?
The Asian Para Games is a continental multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities held every four years under the Asian Paralympic Committee; the 2026 edition features India among the competing nations.
What did Hardeep Singh Puri say about Praveen Sharma?
Hardeep Singh Puri called Sharma's bronze medal win a 'fighting and undaunted performance' and extended his 'heartiest congratulations' on X.
What is PSPB and its role in Indian para sports?
The Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) is a body under the petroleum sector that provides employment and training support to Indian sportspersons, including para athletes like Praveen Sharma.
